Newer Macs than July 19, 2011 come with the hardware test prebundled with the restore partition. If you are able to boot with the D key and get to the hardware test, then you don't need to call AppleCare for the disc.

Backup your data frequently as hardware problems relating to heat could cause damage to the hard drive. Several methods of backing up can be recommended by people here on the board, and you should ask if you are unsure. If the hardware test finds the machine is having problems, call AppleCare:

*The above temperatures and conditions are external ONLY! If you download**temperature monitoring software it should only be used to consider the internal temperatures, which are NOT documented by Apple. While you might be able to guess the temperature limit where failure might be possible, this is only guesswork, and only true hardware test software can tell if the failure is actual failure, or just arbitrary guesswork.*

Warning: Some who are technically inclined have tried modifying the thermal paste, which if fails may lead to a billed repair. I strongly recommend you don't do this. In addition, some have tried to use software that modifies the fan operation. Unfortunately this too is risky, as it assumes you know when the machine is going to overheat and when it is not. And you would not want to be wrong on this, as these machines can get quite hot if tampered with the wrong way.

Some may add to their notebook a shell to protect it against falls. Such a shell may insulate heat around the notebook computer, causing the machine to overheat, and unexpectedly shut down, or freeze while it attempts to cool itself down. If you are using some exterior wrapping on your machine and are experiencing such symptoms when using the machine while that wrapping is on it, remove the said wrapping carefully over a soft surface that won't damage the machine in event it slips out of your hand, and see if the issues with unexpected shutdown persist. If they don't, it says the manufacturer of the said shell needs to offer better ventilation for the computer when it is in use.

Additionally, some may travel with their machine asleep. Alas, some software is known to wake Macs in the middle of their sleep even with the screen shut tight. While it may take longer, shutting down your machine prior to travel will avoid such a scenario from happening. Not to mention, if such a scenario were to happen, your battery charge could become much less, as the screen would be on for the entire duration of time from the time it wakes up.

Lastly, some hardware issues come out as part of an exchange/repair program:

As you might notice on some of the spec pages, 667 MHz PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM is needed for the early 2006 MacBook Pro. Alas, not all RAM of that criteria will work with that model. But the right vendors will let you pick early 2006 MacBook Pro RAM from their store. Three worldwide vendors that do so are http://www.macsales.com/ (OWC), http://www.datamem.com/ and http://www.crucial.com/ Others may do the same in your country. The same RAM issue exists with most Mac models. Pick only the RAM that matches the age of your model and your model as defined by Apple. Not all RAM that gets bad will show in hardware tests as bad, so you have to consider some of the aforementioned symptoms to guess if RAM is the cause, and attempt to isolate it on a base system install for kernel panics as well as shut downs. Kernel panics are described here:

Kernel panics aren't always caused by bad RAM, sometimes they are caused by other hardware going bad, incompatible drivers (which may be the result of an operating system update), and directory issues.

2. Bulging batteries. At one point there was an exchange/repair program for batteries that bulged. They can damage the interior of the Mac, thus leading to overheating.

More by a brody

This site contains user submitted content, comments and opinions and is for informational purposes only.
Apple may provide or recommend responses as a possible solution based on the information provided; every potential issue may involve several factors not detailed in the conversations captured in an electronic forum and Apple can therefore provide no guarantee as to the efficacy of any proposed solutions on the community forums.
Apple disclaims any and all liability for the acts, omissions and conduct of any third parties in connection with or related to your use of the site. All postings and use of the content on this site are subject to the Apple Support Communities Terms of Use.